Anti corruption court Judge Lawrence Gidudu has this afternoon sentenced the two Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) officials and a businessman after convicting them of causing government a 24.7 billion financial loss in the shoddy work upgrade of the Mukono -Katosi -Kyetume -Nyenga road between 2013-2014.
These include Businessman Apollo Senkeeto who was convicted of stealing UGX24.7 billion when he falsely represented himself as the country director of EUTAW Mississippi in Uganda where as not.
The accused faced 24 counts of abuse of office,disobedience of lawful orders,influence and peddling,obtaining money by false pretense and embezzlement among others.
According to the IGG,on the 14th of November 2013 Byandala had ordered the signing of a contract between UNRA and ETAW, a construction company before due date for construction and upgrading of the road leading to the loss of 24.7 billion shillings to a company that was not qualified.
The Inspector General of Government charged Byandala with Abuse of office , causing government a financial loss and disobedience of her orders to stop works on the Mukono-Katosi -Nyenga road.
She accused the former works Minister to have defied the order and instead influenced the procurement process and proceeded to sign the contract to an incompetent company ETAW.
In his written submission, Byandala however had claimed that he had the mandate to give policy directives as a minister although Justice Gidudu had ruled that Byandala must explain whether in his policy directive, it involved directing UNRA to sign a contract to a ghost company.
But Justice Gidudu yesterday acquitted Byandala of any wrong doing saying he signed the contract in good faith and political pressure since the upgrade of the road had delayed since 2010 causing protests from the public.